The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), also known as the platanna and African Clawed Toad, is an aquatic frog from the Pipidae family. Its name refers to the unique black claws on its feet. Found widely across Sub-Saharan Africa and in introduced populations in other regions, this species is toungeless, toothless, and relies on its hands to eat.
Typically mottled greenish-grey with a pale belly, African clawed frogs are sold as pets and can be confused with African dwarf frogs. They reproduce externally and lay eggs during favorable conditions, using a mating position called inguinal amplexus. These frogs can adapt to their environment, burrowing into mud during droughts and remaining dormant for up to a year.
In the wild, they can live for 15 years or more, and in captivity, they can reach up to 30 years. Males are smaller and slimmer than females and can be distinguished by their black patches used during mating. Fully aquatic, they rarely leave the water, using their powerful legs for movement. Clawed frogs are carnivorous, consuming a wide range of prey and even each other’s larvae, making them particularly cannibalistic. They are nocturnal, with most activity occurring after dark.
